Bryan Acosta and Allans Vargas were booked for uncompromising attempts to stop Neymar. Neymar scored just 15 seconds into the game as Brazil took an early lead over Honduras. But the referees are falling into his trap.
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Neymar grabbed a pair of assists before rounding off the scoring in the final minute of normal time from the penalty spot after Marquinhos and Luan added to a double from Gabriel Jesus.
Nine minutes later, Neymar turned provider with a precise pass down the left that Jesus burst onto before crashing the ball into the roof of the net. Center back Marquinhos tacked on a goal in the 51st minute to make it a 4-0 lead. Park, who has won seven major championships, is playing for the first time in two months because of a thumb injury.
Including Neymar wasn’t simply about winning Olympic gold, but a way to let him begin forming a partnership with Gabigol and Gabriel Jesus, two youngsters who also figure prominently in Brazil’s 2018 World Cup plans.
It was a not-all-unexpected result, though this might be an eye-opener: Both 2008 champion Dawn Harper-Nelson and the current world-record holder, Keni Harrison, were back home after failing to crack the top three at the Olympic trials. Whilst seeing similiarities between the teams, he insists the 7-1 was a “once in a lifetime” experience.
“We will not lack fight”.
“It was once in a lifetime. They want us to play well and they want us to win the gold”.
Nigeria had overcome a chaotic build-up to the tournament and rows over player’s allowances to reach the last four.
“It was a disastrous performance, many grave mistakes, and I have to take responsibility”, said Honduran coach Jorge Luis Pinto, a native of Colombia who said he has never had a team give up six goals in his 32-year career.
The final is more important to Brazil than Germany.
This is, of course, an overwrought way of building up a game in the Olympic football tournament, a glorified Under-23 competition that has little credibility now that clubs are not obliged to release players to take part. Horn was able to spare his blushes by making the save and denying a rebound and order was restored in the 21st minute, Germany almost doubling their lead from a dead ball, played into the mixer for Lars Bender, his close-range shot blocked well by Daniel.
Neymar inspired Brazil’s 6-0 win over Honduras on Wednesday, sending them into Saturday’s gold medal match in emphatic fashion.
Neymar hits a free-kick from 25 yards, gets it over and around the wall and the ball strikes the back of the net.
Brazil cruised to a 6-0 win over Honduras to advance to Saturday’s Olympic final, where it will face Germany. Goals from Lukas Klostermann and substitute Nils Petersen meant they did exactly that.
Brazil have struck 12 times in their last three games having been held scoreless in their opening two matches. The dominance of football in the country’s sporting culture is unlikely to be challenged and Neymar has been one of the poster boys for Rio 2016, so the event benefits from his team’s success.
Of course, there is the flip side, where Germany want to continue taunting Brazil.
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More importantly it promises a rematch of Europe vs South America, German tactical awareness and technical efficiency against Brazil’s fluid movement and individual flair.
